I am psychic (I located my bike group within 7 minutes after being accidentally left behind)
Going down stairs is still my enemy even though I conquered them…temporarily
The “worst bathroom in the world” isn’t really that bad…really
The crazy-looking bird in the Amazon is called a hoatzin but pronounced as watson
If I go with the flow, everything usually will work out
Travel insurance can come in handy in…South America
The Lima airport is incredibly small!
And the Cusco airport is even smaller!
You can hike the Inca Trail with fake eyelashes and makeup—I know, because I saw it
You can climb Machu Picchu (probably not the classic Inca Trail) with high heels—if you’re Brazilian
Keep an eye on your passport. Always.
Make a copy of your passport and keep it separate from your passport
Carrying US cash is incredibly useful despite the danger
There aren’t many ATMs in Peru
Act like an expat and you’ll get better rates on the taxis than if you act like a tourist
It’s always useful to know the local language of the place you’re visiting
Birdwatching really means 30 minutes of waiting around until the bird comes into view—I did not know that apparently and thought it was meant to be like…as seen on Planet Earth
I love my bed
There really isn’t that much to do in Lima
Peru is a rather religious country, so many things are closed on Sundays and other significant holidays
For the Inca Trail, when they say the limit is 6 kg for the porter—this would include the sleeping bag and sleeping mat
A microfiber towel is super handy
And toilet paper—always
Mosquito repellent on the skin and clothes…still never deters insects
Take photos of all the food
Or better yet, don’t be afraid to take all the photos that you can—you want to remember why you spend over 2k on those 14 days
Consider whether it’s really worth it to stay in the Lima airport to wait for your early morning Cusco flight, especially if it can be up to 9 hours waiting
Negotiate your taxi in Lima before getting in—determine your rates
Tip well
Do things that are off the beaten track—take the time to research on trip advisor, etc. to find what you would love to do
Be happy even when things are going awry—all of this is an once in a lifetime moment!
I do truly love vacations where I am going, going…
